Steve Howe Hints at New Yes Album

Yes guitarist Steve Howe has hinted that the band might be about to work on a new musical project as their 50th anniversary approaches. Their last studio outing was 2014’s Heaven and Earth, the first to feature singer Jon Davison and their 21st album overall.

“We’ve got an interim period where we’re going to be fairly secretive about what we’re up to,” Howe told Billboard. “Maybe we’re building up repertoire for a future project, but we can’t say. We’ve got ideas, but I can’t say more than this right now.”

He also discussed the possibility of a second album featuring duets with his late son Virgil, who died just before the release of their album Nexus last month. “It’s become a kind of memorial to him – you know, his legacy,” Howe reflected. “It’s a great opportunity to pay homage to him. It gives me pleasure; it’s very warm. It’s a record that’s made with great pleasantry and great ambitions and didn’t have an endless amount of problems. Now it’s had a big problem, if you like, in the fact that Virgil can’t be here to see this reaction. But I enjoy it immensely.”

Nexus began with a selection of 20 tracks which were sifted down to 11 on the final release. “[S]ince Virgil’s passed away I’ve done an update on what’s around,” Howe said. “There’s a fair bit of material there that could be developed into the same sort of area, ‘cause I wouldn’t like it to be too radically different. But basically there is sufficient music for another adventure.”